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This is an exciting and challenging time for independent voters in Arizona. Independents are now the largest community of voters in the state having surpassed the number of registered Democrats and Republicans, and yet, will not be allowed to vote in the upcoming Presidential primary. Hmmmm...you may say. What’s wrong with this picture?! The answer is simple: partisanship. Partisanship means the dominance of political parties and their interests -- in lawmaking, governing and the very conduct of our elections -- over those of the people. When partisanship is in play, there is gridlock, legislative dysfunction and the people’s interest get the back burner treatment while the parties battle it out for power and majority control. Independent Voters for Arizona is changing that.

Each month, Arizona native and author Lisa Schnebly Heidinger's whose lifetime in journalism has resulted in five books, as well as articles, seminars and speeches, profiles a member of Arizona’s independent voter community.

Independents are the largest community of voters in Arizona, but are not allowed to vote in the Presidential primaries. Help protest our exclusion by signing this letter to the Democratic and Republican Party chairs in Arizona urging them to open the March 2016 primaries to allow independents to vote. Thousands have done so already. Add your voice!

Gallup reports that 45% of Americans self-identify as independents. We are becoming organized in Arizona and around the country - not by building a 3rd party - but by creating community that supports the people’s interest, over narrow partisan interests. We support reforms the empower voters and believe that no American should have to join a political party in order to have the right to participate in every election.

Latest Updates:

Amanda Melcher of Independent Voters for Arizona, testified today before the Arizona State Legislature Election Committee on the systemic failures of last Tuesday's presidential primary election. Below is her full testimony.
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Yesterday's Presidential preference election in Arizona was marred by long lines and wait times for voters prompting Gov. Ducey to go on record about the fiasco: "One way we can fix things is to simplify them,” he said, in a statement. “That means allowing independents to vote in presidential primaries,...(Read More)

Jacqueline Salit is author of Independents Rising and president of IndependentVoting.org, a national association of independent voters seeking full inclusion in elections. Here she offers commentary on the suspension of the operation by the Arizona Open and Honest Elections coalition to secure ballot access for two political reform initiatives for the November ballot. (Read More)